Carrying a 2.72 ERA into Tuesday's game against the New York Mets – which would set a new career low in his ninth big league season – Hamels threw eight shutout inning in the Phillies' 6-0 win in front of 27,069 fans at Citi Field.

In his 12 starts since June 1, Hamels owns a 1.58 ERA with the Phillies winning eight of those games. The desire to go out and prove himself, perhaps even carrying a chip on his shoulders despite the $22.5 million he's making this season, has transferred out to the mound.

Hamels retired 16 of the last 17 batters he faced, including 13 straight to end his outing. He only got stronger as the game progressed, allowing just one hit in his final five innings. His command was stellar all night against the Mets, resulting in no walks for the third time this season and eight strikeouts.

"It was fun to catch him," Carlos Ruiz said. "He was working every pitch. He was pitching like an ace. He was mixing everything. He was working his changeup when he needed it and his cutter was working tonight. His control was right there."

Hamels (6-5) scattered six hits in eight innings, lowering his season ERA to 2.55, and had plenty of support from his offense. Solo home runs from Jimmy Rollins and Grady Sizemore – his first as a Phillie – in the third and fourth innings, respectively, gave the Phillies a 2-0 lead against Mets starter Dillon Gee (4-4).

With the way Hamels was pitching, that was all Philadelphia needed. But the Phillies chased Gee out of the game in the seventh by loading the bases, and Chase Utley came through with two outs. Utley crushed a 2-2 pitch from reliever Josh Edgin for a grand slam that landed in the upper deck in right field.

It was Utley's first grand slam since Sept. 2, 2010, at Colorado. Utley has thrived in bases-loaded situations during his career, posting a .346 batting average with five grand slams and 109 RBIs.

Although the Phillies' offense came to life, it was Hamels who stole the show on the mound. For the 14th time in his last 16 starts, Hamels pitched at least seven innings. During that span of seven-plus inning starts, only Felix Hernandez (1.62), Chris Sale (1.74) and Adam Wainwright (1.87) have posted a lower ERA than Hamels (1.91).

Incorporating a two-seam fastball this season has contributed to Hamels' success. It's a pitch he worked on last year and focused on during spring training.

"Everything kind of fell into place," Hamels said. "It's all how you manipulate the ball with your hand. Now I've been able to figure it out and be more comfortable with it. So I think that's something where the repetition helps."

Tuesday's impressive outing gives the Phillies more ammunition to demand two to three top-level prospects for any team looking to acquire Hamels by Thursday's non-waiver trade deadline.

"You know, I would be surprised, but that's not really my department," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said of Hamels getting traded. "I'm not really sure what conversations are going on. I sure like when he takes the mound for us."

Hamels conceded that it has been difficult to ignore trade chatter involving his name when ESPN and MLB Network are on the televisions in every clubhouse. But the 30-year-old said he wouldn't have any hard feelings should he get traded by Thursday's 4 p.m. deadline, understanding that baseball is a business and that the Phillies are in a tough position.

"All I know is I signed here for a very extended period of time so that's what I'm going to uphold to be a Phillie as long as I possibly can because I enjoy it," Hamels said. "This is a great organization to me and the fans have been outstanding. This is the place that I want to win again. It was such a great experience."

Contact Meghan Montemurro at mmontemurro@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter at @M_Montemurro.